Shoulder pad construction



July 8, 1947. E. H. HULL SHOULDER PAD CONSTRUCT ION Filed July 20, 1946 INVENTOR E'Laanor H Hui! ATTORNEY Patented July 8, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOULDER. PAD CONSTRUCTION Eleanor H. Hull, New York, N. Y.

Application July 20, 1946, Serial No. 685,275

3 Claims.

This invention relates to shoulder pads and the like and more particularly to a pad for the insertion into the shoulder portion of a garment.

Garments such as shirts, blouses, jackets and coats, which usually are manufactured in great quantities according to standard size measurements as a rule do not fit properly about the shoulders of the wearer, and, even if the proper size should have been selected, the garment presents a non-tailored and ill-fitting appearance with the garment usually collapsing or sagging about the shoulders in a disorderly manner.

In garments that are specially fitted to the wearer this objection is usually overcome by a so-called padding of the shoulder portion of the garment. This procedure is time consuming and costly in comparison with the price of the garment such as a shirt or a blouse, and, furthermore, this conventional type of padding would be impractical in garments which have to be laundered or cleaned frequently.

It is, therefore, among the objects of the present invention to provide a shoulder pad construction for garments which can easily be adjusted thereto and removed therefrom at will and which resiliently and pliably support and re-inforce the shoulder portion of the garment so as to maintain at all times when it is worn the desired shoulder efiect.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoulder pad construction which is durable in character and which can be used for a plurality of garments.

A further object is to provide a garment having a shoulder construction to which the shoulder pad according to the invention can easily and readily be adjusted.

A still further object is to provide a shoulder pad which is resilient and pliable so that-it can be shaped to fit any shoulder.

A more specific object is to provide a shoulder pad comprising an outer cover or pocket into which a resilient pre-shaped pad can easily be inserted and which cover or pocket can be either formed as a, permanent part of the garment or only temporarily attached thereto.

Other objects and advantages inherent in the invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which discloses by way of example a preferred embodiment as well as possible modifications thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a garment 2 showing the shoulder pad according to the invention adjusted in position.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of a shoulder pad according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the pocket or cover partly opened.

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4- of Figure 2 drawn to a somewhat enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the resilient core to be inserted into the cover or pocket.

.Figure 6 is a front elevation of a modification, and

Figure 7 is a section taken along the line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of another modification.

Similarreference character is used to indicate same or analogous parts throughout the drawing.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing the reference character A indicates generally the garment such as a shirt, blouse, jacket, coat, dress, etc. The particular illustration shown is intended to represent a shirt having a body portion It) and sleeves II. The body portion may be provided with a yoke l2 but obviously the specific shoulder construction will vary according to the type of the garment. It should be understood that the invention is applicable with equal advantage to a raglan type sleeve or a dolman type sleeve. In most instances, however, the garment is provided with a seam running along the shoulder from the neck-line to the line of attachment of the sleeve to the shoulder or arm hole and this seam may serve as an anchorage for the shoulder pad.

Referring to Figure 2 each shoulder pad according to the invention comprises an outer covering or pocket B of fabric or similar material which can be' conveniently attached to the shoulder area of the garment either permanently or in a removable manner.

The cover or pocket I3 is composed of two superimposed substantially triangular arcuate panels I4 and IS. The top panel I4 is of a slightly larger dimension than the bottom panel l5 so as to form an upper larger arc and a relatively smaller lower or inner arc. The base It of the panels I4 and I5 have inserted between them a third panel or gusset l'l having an arcuate shape conforming to the are described by the panels It and I5 when assembled. The third panel l1 tapers from its maximum width at the top of its arc toward a point of juncture between the sides of the panels I and IS.

The two triangular panels I4 and II extend From the portion 19 for the insertion of the core presently to be described.

It should of course be understood that the cover or pocket I3 may be constructed in some other manner, for instance as one unitary piece, without departing from the spirit of the invention, the main feature being that it should have a somewhat thickened base and panels I4 and I5 or corresponding members tapering towards a common apex. The thickness of the base depends of course upon the type of shoulder to which the shoulder pad is to be applied.

Into the aforementioned cover or pocket I3 is inserted a core 2| of resilient and pliable material, such as sponge rubber or similar material, for instance plastic material.

The core 2| is preshaped arcuately before insertion and should of course have the same shape and dimensions as the pocket I3 so that it will fit snugly therein.

In other words, the core- 4 cuate panels attached to one another at least along a portion of. their side edges so as to form a substantially triangular shaped pocket, the top one of said panels having slightly larger dimensions than the bottom one of said panels so as to form an upper larger arc and a relatively smaller inner are, a third flexible panel inserted between the edges of the bases of said first mentioned panels, said third panel having an arcuate shape conforming to the are described by said two first mentioned panels and tapering from its maximum width at the top of its arc towards a point of juncture between the sides of the said first mentioned panels, and a preshaped arcuate core of flexible and resilient material filling said pocket. 2. A shoulder pad construction comprising two superimposed substantially triangular flexible arcuate panels attached to one another at least along a portion of their side edges so as to form a substantially triangular shaped pocket, the top one of said panels having slightly larger dimensions than the bottom one of said panels so as to form an upper larger arc and a relatively smaller inner are, a third flexible panel inserted should be of general triangular and arcuate con figuration having a thickened base and sides tapering towards a common apex.

When the core is inserted into the pocket I3 it will expand or inflate the latter and hold the panels I4 and I5 as well as the gusset or panel I! in expanded condition. In this condition it can easily be attached to the garment and shaped about the shoulder.

The apex of the pad may be attached adjacent the neck-line of the garment and, if desired along the shoulder seam. The two corners may be attached adjacent the arm holes. If desired and as heretofore indicated the pocket may be made a permanent part of the garment itself and the core 2| may then be inserted and removed therefrom at will.

By reason of the tapered corners the pad will fit snugly about the shoulders without causing any bulging but if it is desired to build up the portion adjacent the armpits of course the corners may be thickened.

In the modification shown in Figure 6 the panels I4 and I5 are attached to one another along their sides except along a portion of one side where a fly 22 is provided having overlapping closure members 23 and 24.

In the modification shown in Figure 8 the panel I! is slit longitudinally to provide an opening for the insertionof the core 2|. .This opening may also be of the fly type having overlapping closure members 25 and 26.

It should be understood that this disclosure is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation. On the other hand, the invention lends itself to a variety of expressions within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A shoulder pad construction comprising two superimposed substantially triangular flexible arbetween the edges of the bases of said first mentioned panels, said thrd panel having an arcuate shape conforming to the are described by said two first mentioned panels and tapering from its maximum width at the top of its arc towards a point of juncture between the sides of the said first mentioned panels, means for opening and closing said pocket and a preshaped arcuate removable core of flexible and resilient material for filling said pocket through said opening and closmg means.

3. The combination with a arment having a shoulder pad; of a substantially triangular shoulder pad construction comprising a pair of superimposed substantially triangular flexible arcuate panels attached to one another at least along a portion of their side edges so as to form a substantially triangular shaped pocket, the top one of said panels having slightly larger dimensions than the bottom one of said panels so as to form an upper larger arc and a relatively smaller inner are, a third flexible panel inserted between the edges of the bases of said first mentioned panels, said third panel having an arcuate shape conforming to the are described by said two first mentioned panels and tapering from its maximum width at the top of its arc towards a point of juncture between the sides of the said first mentioned panels, and a preshaped arcuate core of flexible and resilient material filling said pocket, the base of said triangular shoulder pad construction being adjacent the sleeve portion of the garment and the apex thereof being adjacent the neck portion.

ELEANOR H. HULL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS umber Name Date 2,410,986 Mechur Nov. 12, 1946 2,068,644 Frais Jan. 26, 1937 2,365,280 Lahm Dec. 19, 1944 2,405,030 Glickman July 30, 1946 

